Control mechanism for hopper car doors



Jan. 9, 1934. w, J. HQsCErr 1,942,702

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR HOPPER CAR DOORS Filed Nov. 14, 1931 3Sheets-Sheet 1 l Nr fu s Ul l l #u I o i l l :Il I I\l| 'Il l if: G l Us*5 l Jan. 9, 1934. w J 'HOSCEH- 1,942,702

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR HOPPER CAR DOORS Filed Nov. 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Shet2 Jan. 9, 1934. w. Jv. HoscE|T 1,942,702

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR HOPPER CAR DOORS Filed Nov. 14, 1931 3Sheets-Sheet 3 .n gull/01111. /7///////////////.

f i' l@ 3a G n 3l /f` C) 'G Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UETED STATES PATENTOFFICE ORS William J. Hosceit, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Rodger BallastCar Company, Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of Maine Application November 14, 1931 Serial No. 574,949

18 Claims.

|lhis invention relates to a new and improved control mechanism for thedoors of railway hopper cars and is particularly designed for the innerdoors of hopper cars having longitudinally disposed V-shaped hoppers onopposite sides of the center sill, each provided with a pair ofdischarge doors pivoted on an axis located at the apex of the V definingthe contour of the hoppers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide operating andcontrol mechanism for the inner hopper doors of a car of the abovedescribed type, which is positive in both the opening and closingmovements, whereby the control mechanism will impart a positive openingmovement to start the opening of the doors o without reliance upon theforce of gravitation exerted by the lading carried in the car.

Control mechanisms heretofore employed for this use have had a positive7moving force exerted in the closing direction only, and have relied onthe weight of the lading in the car for effecting the opening movementof the door. This type of mechanism has been found imperfect inperformance due to the fact that the doors in some instances becomestuck so that they will not move automatically in the opening direction`under the gravitational force of the lading when the operating means isreleased.

It is accordingly another object of this invention to provide a dooroperating means, the use of which will eliminate any sticking of thedoor in the objectionable manner above referred to.

lt is further an object of this invention to provide a door operatingmechanism which is simple in construction and yet positive and efficientin operation and which may be actuated by means readily accessible tothe operator for quick and positive discharge of the lading of the car.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mechanism which isadapted for installation in the limited space provided therefor in carsof standard construction and which is adapted for combination with thestructural parts now constituting the standard A. R. A. carunderstructures.

These and other objects not specifically enumerated, will readily appearto one 4skilled in the art as the following description proceeds.

The present disclosure is merely given by way of example and should notbe considered as limiting the invention in any respect as the scope ofthe invention should be determined from the appended claims and anappreciation of the with door control mechanism constructed inaccordance with this invention Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of thecar shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed view partly in cross section, showing afragment of the car and the door control mechanism as seen from theside;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse view, partly in cross section,disclosing the car center sill, theinner hopper doors in closedposition, and the door operating mechanism therefor, and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, with the doors in open position.

By referring to the drawings, it will be noted that the presentinvention is disclosed as applied to a hopper car 10, having the usualunderstructure 1l and body 12, provided with a center sill 13. Thebottom of the car body is provided l with sloping floors or sheddingsurfaces 14 and 15 which form with the outer hopper doors 16 and innerhopper doors 17 a pair of longitudinally disposed V-shaped hoppers onopposite sides of the center sills. The inner and outer doors of eachhopper are mounted for pivotal movement on axes 18 located at the apexof the V dening the contour of the hoppers so that the doors movedownwardly in opening for discharge of the lading. In cars of thischaracter, it is customary to provide separate door control means forthe inside hopper doors and the outside hopper doors, and no change ismade in this customary arrangement by the present invention.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the outside doors are providedwith suitable operating mechanism of any usual satisfactory constructionso that they may be opened and closed in the customary manner. It isalso usual in this type of car to provide door control mechanism for theinner doors of a type that actuates both doors simultaneously.

It is the mechanism which is employed for operating the inner doors thatconstitutes the subject matter of this invention. The control mechanismof this invention comprises a long shaft 20, disposed below the centersills and mounted for rotation in brackets 21 and 22 secured to theunder side of the center sill. There are preferably two such shaftssimilarly mounted for the entire car, each shaft extending the length ofthe two co-extensive hoppers located throughout one-half the length ofthe car.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, each inside door isprovided with three duplicate mechanisms by which the opening andclosing movement is imparted to the door and all of which are operatedfrom the same shaft 20. For brevity, only one of these mechanisms willbe described in detail, as the description for one will apply to all.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, it will be noted that each door 17, isprovided with a longitudinal reinforcement 23, near the outer edgethereof attached to the under-side and to which is secured the elongatedbracket 24. This bracket is preferably of the shape shown and itsprimary function is to provide an element rigid with the door having apivot 25 to which the operating mechanism is pivotally attached.

This bracket is also important from the standpoint of locating theattaching pivot 25 in substantially the manner shown with respect to theposition of the door in the open and closed positions, the door pivots18 and the location of the shaft 20. The significance of thisarrangement will be appreciated from the following description of themechanism connecting the shaft 20 and the door which is constructed andarranged to impart a positive thrust to the door in the opening andclosing directions,

As shown in Figures 3 to 5 inclusive, each of 35 the duplicate operatingmechanisms mounted on struction, more clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5and is provided with a radially extending fork member 28 having abearing 29 at the end adapted to mount the bolt 30 and link 31 of thedoor operating chain. Disposed at other points on the circumference ofthe hub 26, are radially extending projections or teeth 32 having a step33 in the outer end thereof. Stepped teeth are arranged in pairs and areadapted to cooperate with the shoulders 34 of each link 31 of the dooroperating chain. In addition to the teeth, a tooth-like lug 35 isprovided on the hub as shown in Figures 3 and 4 for cooperativeengagement with the lug 36 carried on the elongated thrust link 37 for apurpose hereinafter more fully described.

It will be observed however, that each 0f the.

links which are pivoted together to form a chain, is adapted to be woundon the hub as shown in Figure 4 when the doors are in closed positionwith each link disposed in cooperative engagement with its shoulders inabutment with the stepped teeth of the hub. It will further appear thatupon rotation of the shaft 26, in clockwise direction, a rotary movementwill be imparted to the hub and the chain unwound with a positive thrustimparted to each link whereby door moves in the opening direction.

The elongated thrust link 37 constitutes the connecting means between`the end link of the chain and the bracket 24 so that by initialmovement of the door actuating means, a positive thrust is imparted tothe door in the opening direction, by means of cooperating lugs 35 and35 above described. This mechanism, attached for actuation on the hub26, fixed to AVV the shaft 20, is serviceable for opening the door thefor one hopper only, disposed on that side of the center sill where therotation of the shaft 20 will impart the desired movements thereto.However, it will be clear that the actuation of the opposite doorthrough the instrumentality of a similar mechanism will involve areverse rotation of the hub which is provided for in the presentinvention as follows:

` The bracket 22 mounted on the under side of the center sill, isprovided with a vertically disposed stub shaft 40 on which is mounted abevelled gear 41. This gear is in mesh with a bevelled gear 42 which isformed as an integral part of or is rigidly attached to the hub 26,keyed to the shaft 2G. On the opposite side of the bracket 22, from thehub 26, a similar but reversely arranged hub 42 is provided having abevelled gear 43 formed as an integral part thereof or keyed thereto, inmesh with the bevelled gear 4l. The hub 42 is loosely mounted on theshaft for independent rotation and is held against axial movement by thebracket 22, in one direction and the collar 44 in the other direction.

This hub is likewise provided with a yoke, stepped teeth and lugconnected to a chain and thrust link of similar construction foractuating the opposite door.

lt will thus be appreciated that the rotation of shaft 20 in a directionto properly actuate one door and the mechanism therefor, will serve torotate the other hub 42 in the opposite directionwhich is proper foractuation of the opposite door. The rotary movement of the shaft may beimparted through any suitable mechanism but it is preferred to provide aworm gear 50, disposed between the brackets 2l and nxed to rotate withthe shaft 20, which worm gear is in mesh with a worm 5l, keyed to theshaft 52, disposed transversely of the car as shown. These parts can bemounted in any suitable manner but as here illustrated, the shaft 52extends through the center sill 13, which provides suitable bearingstherefor. This shaft preferably extends to the side extremity of the carwhere it terminates in a position readily accessible for operation fromeither side of the car. The shaft may be constructed or provided withmeans whereby it may be readily rotated. This of course, may beaccomplished by crank, lever or other suitable device commonly used forthis purpose,

In operation, when it is desired to open the inside doors, the operatoris free to actnate the shaft 52 from either side of the car. Rotarymovement of the shaft 52 operates through the v worm and worm gear toimpart a rotary movement to the shaft 20 and in turn, hub 26. At thispoint, it is important to notice that when the door is in closedposition, the elongated link 37 is disposed in a position tangential tothe hub 26 so that the initial rotation of the hub may be impartedthrough the cooperating lugs 35 and 36 to exert a thrust on theattaching pivot 25, carried by the door. The attaching pivot 25 is sopositioned by means of bracket 24, that the opening thrust will beeffective to immediately start the door in its opening movement. Thisforce positive in its effect, whereby the opening movement of the dooris inescapable irrespective of tendency to stick, or for any cause, toremain in its closed position. After the preliminary movement,cooperating lugs 35 and 36 pass out of contact, whereby the thrust isimparted directly by the Vadjacent link of the chain.

The movement of this link, is positive, due to the cooperative contactbetween the link and the stepped tooth on the hub. Accordingly, the doormoves to a further open position. Likewise, each succeeding link cornesinto operation and serves to lower the door to a further extent untilfinally the parts are in the position shown in Figure 5. Here it will benoted the thrust link assumes a position which underlies the door sothat the outer end thereof which is connected to the chain, lies in aposition adjacent the outer edge of the door.

As shovn in Figure 5, when the door is in open position, the chain isdisposed approximately at a tangent to the arc of movement of the outerend of the door, whereby a maximum closing movement is providedimmediately upon rotation of the shaft 20 in the closing direction.

Furthermore, by the rotation of the shaft 20, and the action of thebevelled gears 42, 4l and 43, the freely rotatingr hub 42 is given areverse but similar movement for actuating the opposite door 17 in themanner above described.

When the doors are in closed position, the shaft 20 and the hubs thereonare locked against accidental rotation, by means of the worm gear andworm 5l and the extension links 37 constitute a positive locking meansextending between the hubs and the doors for supporting the weight ofthe lading carried on the upper surfaces of the closed doors.

I claim:

l. In combination with a hopper car having longitudinal V-shaped hopperson opposite sides of the center sill and inside doors for said hopperspivoted at the location of the apices of said hoppers, control mechanismfor each of said doors comprising a longitudinal shaft disposed betweensaid doors having toothed hubs thereon, link means connected betweensaid hubs and doors each including a single rigid thrust link extendingbetween a tooth on said hub and said door when the latter is in closedposition.

:2. In combination with a hopper car having a V-shaped hopper and a doortherefor pivoted at its lower edge at the apex of said hopper, controlmeans for said door comprising a toothed hub mounted for rotation on anaxis parallel to the axis of said door and link means secured to saidhub and door adapted for engagement with the teeth and winding on saidhub, including a single rigid thrust link extending between a tooth onsaid hub and said door when the latter is in said closed position.

3. In combination with a hopper car having a hopper and door therefor,control means for said door comprising a sprocket mounted for pivotalmovement on an axis parallel to the hinge of said door and an elementcomprising a plurality of pivoted links, some of which are adapted forwinding engagement on said sprocket and a single thrust link extendingbetween a tooth on said sprocket and said door when the door is inclosed position.

e. In combination with a hopper car having a hopper and hinged doortherefor, control means for said door comprising a toothed hub mountedfor rotation on an axis parallel to the hinge of said door and anelement connected between said iub and said door comprising a pluralityof pivoted links, one of said links being constructed as a single rigidthrust link of sufficient length to extend between tooth on said hub andsaid door when the latter is in closed position and the remaining linksbeing adapted to be wound on said hub, the teeth of said hub and all ofsaid links having cooperating contacting surfaces for imparting apositive thrust to said links in the opening direction.

5. In combination with a hopper car having a longitudinal V-shapedhopper and inner door therefor hinged at its lower edge at the locationof the apex of said hopper, control means for said door comprising a hubmounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the hinge of said door toone side of and between the hinge and upper edge thereof and meansconnecting said hub and door comprising a plurality of pivoted links,one of said links comprising an elongated thrust link extending betweensaid hub and a bracket rigidly secured to said door, said bracketextending downwardly from said door to provide a point of connection forsaid thrust link, safely below the dead center line between said hub andthe hinge of said door.

6. In combination with an inclined door, hinged at its lower edge,control means therefor comprising a hub mounted for rotation on an axisparallel with the hinge of said door to one side of said door betweenthe hinge and upper edge thereof, means connecting said hub and doorconstructed to impart an initial thrust to said door in an openingdirection. said means being pivotally connected to said door through theinstrumentality of a bracket rigidly secured to said door and extendingdownwardly to locate the point of attachment below the dead center linebetween said door hinge and hub.

7. In combination with an inclined door, hinged at its lower edge,control means therefor comprising a hub mounted for rotation on an axisYparallel with the hinge of said door to one side of said door betweenthe hinge and upper edge thereof, a plurality of pivoted linksconnecting said hub and door comprising an elongated thrust linkextending between said hub and door when the latter is in closedposition, said thrust link being connected to said door through theinstrumentality of an elongated bracket rigidly secured to said door andextending downwardly providing the point of connection safely below thedead center line between said hub and the hinge of said door.

8. In combination with an inclined door hinged at its lower edge,control means therefor comprising a hub mounted for rotation on an axisparallel with the hinge of said door to one side of said door betweenthe hinge and upper edge thereof, a plurality of pivoted linksconnecting said hub and door comprising an elongated thrust linkextending between said hub and door when the latter is in closedposition, said thrust link being connected to said door through theinstrumentality of an elongated bracket rigidly secured to said door andextending downwardly providing the point of connection safely below thedead center line between said hub and the hinge of the door, said thrustlink being adapted to underlie said door and project beyond and supportthe outer edge thereof when the door is in open position.

9. In combination with a hopper car having a longitudinally disposedV-shaped hopper to one side of the center sill and an inside doortherefor pivoted at its lower edge at the apex of said hopper, controlmeans for said door comprising a longitudinal shaft disposed below thecenter sill at a level between the hinge and top of said door and arotatable sprocket mounted on the axis of said shaft to be driventhereby and a plurality of pivoted links extending between said sprocketand a bracket rigidly secured to said door, one of said linksconstituting an elongated thrust link extending between said sprocketand bracket in engagement with a tooth of said sprocket to impart athrust to said door in the opening direction and the remaining linksbeing adapted for winding and unwinding on said sprocket in engagementwith the teeth of said sprocket for imparting positive unwindingmovement to each link of said chain.

10. In combination with a hopper car having a longitudinally disposedV-sha-ped hopper to one side of the center sill and an inside doortherefor pivoted at its lower edge at the apex of said hopper, controlmeans for said door comprising a longitudinal shaft disposed below thecenter sill at a level between the hinge and top of said door and arotatable sprocket mounted on the axis of said shaft to be driventhereby and a plurality of pivoted links extending between said sprocketand a bracket rigidly sec red to said door, one of said linksconstituting an elongated thrust link extending between said sprocketand bracket in engagement with a tooth of said sprocket to impart athrust or" said door in the opening direction and the remaining linksbeing adapted for winding and unwinding on said sprocket in engagementwith the teeth of said sprocket for imparting positive unwindingmovement to each link of said chain, said bracket extending downwardlyfrom said door to locate the point of attachment for said thrust linksafely below the dead centerline between the hinge or" said door andsaid sprocket.

1l. In combination with a hopper car having longitudinal il-shapedhoppers on opposite sides of the center sill and inner doors for saidhoppers pivoted at their lower edges at the apices o1 said hoppers,control means therefor comprising a longitudinal shaft located below thecenter sill and a plurality of sprockets mounted on said shaft, meansconnecting one sprocket to one door and the other sprocket to the otherdoor and means securing one sprocket for rotation with said shaft in onedirection and means drivingly co acting said other sprocket to. saidshaft for rotation in the opposite direction.

l2. In combination with a hopper car having a pair of longitudinaltl-shaped hoppers on opposite sides of the center sill and inner doorsfor said hoppers, control means for said doors cornprising alongitudinal shaft, a sprocket fixed for rotation with said shaft and asecond sprocket loose on said shaft and gear means connecting saidsprockets whereby said loose sprocket is driven by said shaft in thereverse direction, link means connecting one oi said sprockets to onedoor and similar means connecting the other of said sprockets to theother door.

13. In combination with a hopper having a pair oi longitudinal V -shapedhoppers on opposite sides of the center sill and inner doors for saidhoppers, control means for said doors coniprising a longitudinal shaft,a sprocket fixed for rotation with said shaft and a second sprocketloose on said shaft and gear means connecting said sprockets wherebysaid loose sprocket is driven by said shaft in the reverse direction,link means connecting one ci said sprockets to one` door and similarmeans connecting the other of said sprockets to the other door, saidlink means each including an elongated thrust link adapted to extendbetween its sprocket and door when the latter is in closed position.

14. In combination with a hopper car having longitudinal V-shapedhoppers on opposite sides o the center sill and inside doors for saidhoppers pivoted at the location of the apices of said hoppers, controlmechanism for each of said doors comprising a longitudinal shaftdisposed between said doors having toothed hubs thereon, link meansconnected between said hubs and doors each including a single rigidthrust link extending between a tooth on said hub and said door when thelatter is in closed position, and means for imparting rotation oi saidshaft but resisting accidental rotation thereof.

l5. In combination with a hopper car having longitudinal V-shapedhoppers on opposite sides of the center sill and inside doors for saidhoppers pivoted at the location of the apices of said hoppers, controlmechanism for each of said doors comprising a longitudinal shaftdisposed between said doors having toothed hubs thereon, link meansconnected between said hubs and doors each including a single rigidthrust link extending between a tooth on said hub and said door when thelatter is in closed position and a second shaft adapted for manualrotation having a worm and worm gear connection with said rst shaft.

16. In combination with a hopper car having longitudinal V-shapedhoppers on opposite sides of the center sill and inside doors for saidhoppers pivoted at the location of the apices of said hoppers, controlmechanism for each of said doors comprising a longitudinal shaftdisposed between said doors having toothed hubs thereon, link meansconnected between said hubs and doors each including a single rigidthrust link extending between a tooth on said hub and said door when thelatter is in closed position and a second shaft extending transverselyof said car for manual rotation from either side thereof having a worinand worm gear connection with said ii `st shaft.

17. In a railroad car oi the hopper type having longitudinal V-shapedhoppers on opposite sides of the center sill and inside doors for saidhoppers pivoted at the apices of said hoppers and adapted to opendownwardly, control means for said doors for positively andsimultaneously moving said doors in an opening direction at only thestart of said opening movement and for controlling the further openingmovement of said doors as eiected by gravity, and for positively andsimultaneously closing said doors.

18. In a railroad car of the hopper type having longitudinal V-shapedhoppers on opposite sides of the center sill, and inside and outsidedoors for said hoppers pivoted at the apices of said hoppers and adaptedto open downwardly, control means for said outside doors and controlmeans for said inside doors for positively and simultaneously movingsaid inside doors in an opening direction at only the start of saidopening movement and for controlling the further opening movement ofsaid inside doors as effected by gravity, and for positively andsimultaneously closing said inside door.

WILLIAM J HOSCEIT.

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